Shen Medical Hall.

Shen Ruzhan was in her study, reading, when Lü Qingluan stepped softly to the door and said: “Proprietress, a guest has come to call. They’ve sent in a visiting card.”

Shen Ruzhan looked up. “Who is it?”

“The documents show they’ve come from Anyang City, but the calling card identifies them as the Changsun Family of Eastern Yu, Jingzhou. The one presenting the card gives his name as Changsun Wuyou.”

“The Changsun Family of Eastern Yu, Jingzhou?”

Shen Ruzhan rose and paced back and forth for a moment.

There was no shortage of great houses in this world that could claim the name of powerful clans — but the number that could truly be called noble families was far smaller. And whether great clan or noble family, the vast majority were concentrated in Jingzhou.

Even those not seated within the capital were still within Jingzhou’s boundaries.

The Changsun Family had produced generation after generation of men of talent and ability. Long before Dachu existed, the Changsun name was already distinguished. In the time of the Zhou dynasty, the Changsun Family had even achieved the glory of three Prime Ministers from a single household — for over sixty years, three members of the Changsun line had presided over Zhou’s government. In those sixty years, not even the Wang and Xie families could contend with them.

It was precisely because of the Changsun Family’s unrivaled power during the Zhou era that when Zhou fell, the blow they suffered was the greatest of all.

When powerful ministers fall from grace, the Changsun Family had no choice but to keep a low profile.

After Dachu was founded, the Wang and Xie families rose to prominence. The Changsun Family chose to bide their time and conceal their strength.

For nearly a hundred years after Dachu’s founding, no member of the Changsun Family was seen holding significant power at court.

They conducted business steadily and accumulated enormous wealth.

Yet a family of that caliber — how could they truly be content to sink beneath the water and raise no ripple forevermore?

After the founding century had passed, the Changsun Family had built their foundation deep and thick, and struck with concentrated force. They entered the centers of court power once more.

“Eastern Yu is the Changsun Family’s ancestral seat.”

After a moment’s consideration, Shen Ruzhan said: “Show them in.”

Shortly after, the young gentleman known as Changsun Wuyou was escorted inside. Upon seeing Shen Ruzhan, he gave a slight bow.

The two exchanged pleasantries briefly, after which Changsun Wuyou stated his purpose with a directness that even Shen Ruzhan found startling.

“I have brought seven cartloads of medicinal herbs — none of the cheap, common variety that can be bought anywhere at any time.”

Changsun Wuyou said: “And these seven cartloads of herbs, I do not bring to do business with Shen Medical Hall. I bring them as a gift to you, Shen Proprietress.”

Shen Ruzhan smiled and asked: “Why?”

“I ask only for an introduction.”

He said to her: “I have come representing my family. I wish to seek an audience with Prince Ning, and to convey the goodwill of the Changsun Family toward him.”

Shen Ruzhan was mildly taken aback, then smiled. “Changsun Young Master is admirably forthright.”

Changsun Wuyou replied: “I dare not practice any deception.”

Shen Ruzhan understood perfectly the manner in which great families conducted themselves — they never staked everything on a single tree.

The Changsun Family understood clearly that Dachu was already well past its sunset. Even with the new Emperor Yang Jing’s determined effort to rejuvenate the realm, and even with veteran minister Yang Jiju armoring up to lead the charge, it was difficult to reverse the tide.

And so every great family had been dispatching people in all directions — to every leader who showed the potential to contend for the realm, they would place a wager.

“You are the person the Changsun Family has sent to Jizhou — to remain at Prince Ning’s side long-term?”

Shen Ruzhan’s question was equally direct.

Changsun Wuyou nodded. “I am.”

Shen Ruzhan smiled and asked: “Are you confident you can do it?”

Changsun Wuyou said: “Fifty percent.”

Shen Ruzhan smiled. “Fifty percent? That’s not very high.”

Changsun Wuyou said: “That fifty percent is based on my own assessment of myself. I haven’t yet met Prince Ning — so for now, it’s only this baseline fifty.”

Shen Ruzhan’s eyes brightened slightly.

The confidence in this young man was something that made one look at him in a new light.

She smiled. “I assumed that someone like you would handle this with at least some degree of circumspection. I didn’t expect you to be so direct.”

Changsun Wuyou said: “Others perhaps would be. I am not. I might have been once — but yesterday I happened to meet Commissioner Yan of Jizhou, and it taught me something: pursue effectiveness in action. Roundabout paths and opaque intentions are a waste of time.”

Shen Ruzhan smiled. “Since you’ve already met Commissioner Yan, why come to me for help?”

“This was decided before I came,” Changsun Wuyou said.

He let out a faint breath, with a slight note of resignation. “After all, what I’ve prepared is seven cartloads of medicinal herbs — not seven cartloads of books.”

He had seen Yan Qingzhi the previous day, and Yan Qingzhi had been walking with a half-read scroll still in hand.

Shen Ruzhan asked: “The Changsun Family has sent out quite a number of people, I imagine. Were you chosen for Jizhou because you are among the most capable?”

Changsun Wuyou said: “No. Across the realm, wherever the powerful are rising, our family has dispatched people. Prince Ning came to prominence only the year before last, and only gained true momentum last year — relatively late in the game. So the most capable ones had already gone elsewhere. I was sent to Jizhou because there genuinely wasn’t anyone more suitable to send.”

Shen Ruzhan said: “By that account, you may not even be from the Changsun Family’s main line.”

“Main line — I am, just barely.”

Changsun Wuyou said: “After all, those who reside in Eastern Yu must be of the main line — according to the family rules, those of branch lines cannot settle permanently in Eastern Yu, the ancestral seat.”

He remained equally candid: “But my background, within the Changsun main line, amounts to an outer branch of an outer branch.”

Shen Ruzhan grew more curious. “Why be so frank? If Prince Ning learns you can barely even be called Changsun main line, he’ll think the family is looking down on him.”

Changsun Wuyou said: “He needn’t merely think it. They are.”

Shen Ruzhan’s eyes narrowed.

Changsun Wuyou said: “The family once dispatched someone to Anyang to offer their allegiance to King Ji Luo Jing. They brought two hundred thousand coins for expenses and numerous precious gifts as tribute — only before they arrived, King Ji had already been defeated.”

He looked at Shen Ruzhan: “When they sent me, they gave me thirty thousand coins to manage on my own. That is why I bought seven cartloads of medicinal herbs.”

Changsun Wuyou said: “Think about it — Prince Ning would not care about thirty thousand silver taels. And I have nothing better to offer as tribute. So I thought — perhaps I should…”

Shen Ruzhan smiled: “Go the less obvious route.”

Then she said, still smiling: “Your research wasn’t thorough enough.”

The smile on her face grew even more radiant. “If instead of exchanging that thirty thousand silver taels for medicinal herbs, you had simply brought the thirty thousand silver taels directly and requested an audience with Prince Ning, that would have been far less roundabout and far less trouble.”

Changsun Wuyou hesitated, as though he couldn’t quite believe it.

“Prince Ning would agree to see me… for thirty thousand silver taels?”

His tone was skeptical.

Shen Ruzhan smiled: “Which is why I say your research wasn’t thorough enough.”

—

That same afternoon.

The Carriage Yard.

Li Chi listened as Shen Ruzhan finished her account, then smiled. “The Changsun Family sends someone all this way to hand me thirty thousand silver taels — meaning that in the Changsun Family’s estimation, what I’m worth is exactly thirty thousand. Just toss it over; if it comes to something, good. If not, no great loss.”

Yu Jiuling sighed. “To look down on someone so brazenly — and then to walk right up to your door to look down on you, while hoping to make something of themselves here — is this person out of their mind?”

Li Chi asked Shen Ruzhan: “What does Shen Proprietress make of it?”

Shen Ruzhan said: “Perhaps he had no choice. And for all that, this approach may be the shrewder one.”

Li Chi nodded. “Quite right.”

Yu Jiuling asked: “Why would that be? Wouldn’t putting on airs be more effective? Just claim to be the Changsun main line — heir of the eldest son — and say he’s come bearing the whole family’s heartfelt hope…”

“And then what?” Li Chi said.

He held out his hand toward Yu Jiuling: “Since you’ve come carrying the hopes of an entire family, producing a hundred thousand taels should be no problem, yes?”

Yu Jiuling blinked.

“You represent the whole family’s hopes,” Li Chi continued. “If you can’t even produce a hundred thousand taels, what kind of family representative are you?”

Yu Jiuling said: “So it’s better to be straightforward from the start — I’m the one they don’t think much of, and Prince Ning, neither do they think much of you. I’ve brought thirty thousand taels. Here you go. Give me something to do?”

“He came as far as Shen Medical Hall,” Li Chi said. “What he’s after is not just ‘something to do.'”

Li Chi looked at Shen Ruzhan and said: “Have him come see me first thing tomorrow morning.”

—

The next day. The Prince Ning Residence.

Li Chi was in the middle of cutting meat for his eagle when his attendants showed Changsun Wuyou in.

Li Chi cut a piece of meat, and without looking, hurled it up into the sky. The eagle dove and snatched it from the air in a single snap.

Changsun Wuyou watched this scene, said nothing, turned around, and walked out.

Even Yu Jiuling, who had shown him in, was stunned. He looked at the departing Changsun Wuyou, then at Li Chi — still standing there feeding his eagle as though nothing had happened.

What on earth was this?

He wanted to go after Changsun Wuyou and bring him back, but Li Chi had not spoken, and Yu Jiuling didn’t dare act on his own.

A moment later, however, Changsun Wuyou walked back in by himself.

“Changsun Wuyou pays his respects to Prince Ning.”

He bowed formally.

As though what had just happened a moment ago had never occurred at all — perfectly natural.

Yu Jiuling thought to himself: this one is someone worth watching.

Li Chi went on cutting meat, and said: “No need to put yourself through that. You turned to leave because you saw me playing with animals instead of attending to affairs of state, and thought there was no future in staying at my side. That’s why you walked out.”

He glanced up at Changsun Wuyou. “You came back because — well, you’ve come all this way anyway.”

Li Chi finished chopping the remaining meat into small pieces and handed it to an attendant. “Cook this into a gruel and feed it to the sacred eagle.”

He walked over to wash his hands, glancing sidelong at Changsun Wuyou: “Besides, thirty thousand silver taels’ worth of medicinal herbs — even tossed into the river, you’d still want to see what kind of ripples it made.”

Changsun Wuyou offered no explanation.

Li Chi said: “Measure yourself out. You have thirty thousand taels’ worth of time to convince me to keep you.”

“One quarter-hour,” said Changsun Wuyou.

“Very well,” said Li Chi.

Changsun Wuyou was quiet for a moment, gathered his thoughts, then began: “Prince Ning and I share one thing in common.”

He waited for Li Chi to ask what that was. Li Chi walked over to the vegetable garden and started turning the soil with a hoe.

He had no choice but to continue on his own: “My family considers Prince Ning unimportant. And I, within my family, am equally unimportant.”

This time Li Chi did respond.

Four words.

“What’s that to me?”

Changsun Wuyou paused.

Was this the Prince Ning who was said to hunger for talent?

He gave a quiet cough and pressed on: “If I can help Prince Ning contend for the realm, it would make me many times more accomplished than anyone else my family sent out.”

Li Chi ignored him again.

“The one no one believed in becomes the strongest,” Changsun Wuyou said. “And then becomes the one who wins in the end.”

“Show him out,” said Li Chi.

“There’s still time left in the quarter-hour,” said Changsun Wuyou.

Li Chi said: “Someone like you isn’t worth a quarter-hour of my time.”

“Prince Ning rose from nothing!” Changsun Wuyou said urgently. “I can do the same!”

Li Chi finally appeared to take some interest.

He straightened up and said: “I’ll give you three sentences.”

Changsun Wuyou spoke rapidly: “First step: seize Anyang, then feign a march south toward Yuzhou to draw Prince Wu’s forces back to defend it, then split off troops to take Qingzhou.”

“That’s one,” said Li Chi.

“Second step: after taking Qingzhou, press into Xuzhou and watch the tigers fight from the mountain — Li Xionghu of Jiangnan and Prince Wu will each take losses from the other. Prince Ning can reap the gains of the fisherman.”

“That’s two,” said Li Chi.

Changsun Wuyou swept his robe aside and dropped to his knees. “Third step: Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years.”

Yu Jiuling’s jaw dropped.

Li Chi smiled.

Yu Jiuling understood at once.

This one was cut from the same cloth.

—